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How to find a federal retirement planner who knows the system

A good federal retirement planner knows FERS or CSRS, the TSP, FEHB and FEGLI as well as general planning, and can show you how they interact. Look for federal-specific training, ask how they are paid, and verify any credential. A Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC®) holder has studied exactly these systems.

Get matched with an FRC Free, no obligation
Cost to you
Free, no obligation
Who you meet
A professional who holds the FRC designation
How long to start
Five short questions
Obligation
None, ever

FFEBA is an education organization. We are not advisors and we do not manage money. We train professionals and introduce federal employees to FRC holders, free.

Why does federal-specific knowledge matter?

Federal benefits run on rules that private-sector planning never touches. The FERS annuity formula, the supplement's earnings test, the survivor election's link to FEHB, and the TSP's withdrawal options each change the right answer for you. A planner unfamiliar with these rules can miss how one decision changes another.

What should I ask before I meet anyone?

  • How many federal clients do you work with? Ask specifically about FERS, CSRS or special provisions, whichever is yours.
  • What federal-specific training do you have? A designation, coursework or years of federal-focused practice.
  • How are you paid? Fees, commissions or both. A good professional answers this plainly and in writing.
  • What licenses do you hold? Insurance licenses and FINRA registrations are public. Check them.
  • Will you show your work? Ask to see the assumptions behind any number they give you.

What does the FRC designation mean?

The FRC designation is issued by FFEBA and listed in FINRA's professional designations database. FINRA lists designations so investors can read what each requires; it does not approve or endorse any of them.

  • PrerequisitesTwo of three: a bachelor's degree or higher in business, finance or economics, or two years of industry experience; a state insurance license or a qualifying FINRA registration; or a listed credential such as CFP, ChFC, CLU, JD or CPA.
  • CourseworkFERS and CSRS, Social Security, the TSP, FEHB and FEGLI.
  • ExamOnline, closed-book and proctored.
  • Continuing educationSix credits every year (FINRA, retrieved 2026-10-11).
  • ConductA background check (federalretirementconsultant.com, retrieved 2026-10-12).

What it does not mean: an FRC is not a government employee and does not speak for OPM or your agency. The designation is training; it does not guarantee any result.

How do I check a professional's record?

Verify the designation, then check licenses. Use the FRC Lookup on our verify page to confirm a current FRC by name. For FINRA-registered professionals, BrokerCheck shows registrations and any disclosures. Insurance licenses are listed by your state's insurance department.

How does FFEBA's free match work?

  1. 01

    Answer five questions

    Career stage, retirement system, years of service, state and the topics you want help with.

  2. 02

    Meet your FRC

    We introduce an FRC who serves your state. The benefits review is free.

  3. 03

    Decide

    You are never obligated to work with anyone we introduce.

The FRC professionals in our network sponsor FFEBA's free education and matching.

How it works

Three steps, no cost to you.

  1. 01

    Answer five questions

    Career stage, retirement system, years of service, state, and what you want help with.

  2. 02

    Review your FRC match

    See who they are and where the designation is listed before you agree to anything.

  3. 03

    Take the free review

    A 1:1 call by phone or video at a time you choose, on your own numbers.

Start my match

Before you book

Fair questions, straight answers.

Do I need a federal retirement planner, or can I do it myself?

Many federal employees plan on their own using OPM, TSP and agency HR resources, which are accurate and free. A planner helps most when decisions interact: retirement date, survivor election, TSP withdrawals and Medicare timing. A free benefits review is a low-cost way to find out whether you want ongoing help.

Is a financial advisor for the TSP different from a regular advisor?

The TSP has its own rules, including the G Fund, its own withdrawal options and federal beneficiary forms. Any advisor can learn them, but many never have. Ask a prospective advisor how many TSP participants they work with and how they handle the federal-specific pieces.

What is the difference between an FRC and a CFP?

They cover different ground. The FRC designation focuses on federal employee benefits: FERS, CSRS, the TSP, FEHB, FEGLI and Social Security coordination. The CFP covers general financial planning. Some professionals hold both. FINRA lists both in its professional designations database and endorses neither.

Can my agency HR office do this instead?

Your HR office is the official source for your records, eligibility and retirement application, and you should use it. HR specialists generally do not give personal financial planning advice, such as how to draw down the TSP. A planner complements HR; it does not replace it.

Is there a list of federal retirement consultants near me?

FFEBA does not publish a public directory. Instead, the free match introduces you to an FRC who serves your state, in person or by phone or video. You can check any person's designation by name with the FRC Lookup.

A federal employee in her late fifties listens on a phone call in a lamp-lit armchair, a notepad on her knee

The free benefits review

“Can I retire at 57 with the FERS supplement?”

It depends on your birth year, your years of service and whether you keep working, because the supplement has an earnings test and stops at 62. An FRC works it through on your own record, and the review costs you nothing.

  1. 01Career stage
  2. 02Retirement system
  3. 03Years of service
  4. 04Your state
  5. 05Help you want
Get matched with an FRC How the match works

Five questions, then you see your match. FRC professionals may be compensated if you choose to work with them.